Sheriff Crutchfield opposes gun bill

Tuesday

Dec 18, 2012 at 12:01 AMDec 18, 2012 at 2:30 PM

A proposed law that would al­low Michigan residents to carry concealed weapons in schools, daycare centers, churches, bars and other so- called ?gun- free zones? is awaiting Gov. Rick Sny­der?s signature, but final approval might be delayed due to the ele­mentary school shooting in Con­necticut.

Charles Slat

A proposed law that would al­low Michigan residents to carry concealed weapons in schools, daycare centers, churches, bars and other so- called ?gun- free zones? is awaiting Gov. Rick Sny­der?s signature, but final approval might be delayed due to the ele­mentary school shooting in Con­necticut.

Gov. Snyder intends to review the package carefully before de­ciding if it should become law, according to Sara Wurfel, his spokeswoman.

She said the governor believes the Connecticut tragedy ?must and should give pause? in con­sidering such legislation.

The legislation, however, would allow schools, churches and oth­er entities to declare themselves off-limits to openly carried guns under trespass laws.

In addition to changing where concealed weapons might be carried, the law would change the licensing process, abolish­ing local three-member licensing boards and giving county sheriffs sole licensing discretion.

Monroe County Sheriff Tilman Crutchfield has joined other law enforcement officials opposing the law and e-mailed Senate Ma­jority Leader Randy Richardville, R- Monroe, asking that he en­courage the governor not to sign the bill into law.

The Michigan Sheriffs Asso­ciation does not support that legislation, and also is asking the governor not to sign it, Sheriff Crutchfield said.

The sheriff said not only does the proposal put an additional burden on sheriffs, it does not provide funding ? essentially a potential violation of the Head­lee Amendment ? and requires the sheriff to process applica­tions in 45 days or, if not, to issue a refund and then automatically issue a temporary license.

He said the $ 105 licensing fee now is split up among the FBI, Michigan State Police, county clerk and sheriff?s office, with the sheriff getting $ 15, the smallest portion of the fee. ? Essentially they are saying the sheriff still gets the lesser of the fees but does all the work,? Sheriff Crutchfield said.

As far as easing the rules on where guns may be carried, Sheriff Crutchfield said, ?I would like to err on the side of cau­tion in that you?re introducing more weapons into those en­vironments. Sure the person is licensed, has more training and is authorized, but you?re telling them it?s okay to carry here be­cause we don?t think you?re going to use it.

?On other side, whoever wants to do these dastardly deeds, it doesn?t matter what the law is, they are going to do it,? he said.

He said if someone is intent to commit such crimes, the only things you can do is have tight security to make it difficult for them to access venues or slow them down.

? The only thing you can do is make it tougher for a person to carry that act out. If you?re saying it?s okay to carry in schools and these other areas, you?re allowing them to come in, no questions asked,? he said.

?There?s no one more pro-carry than I am,? Sheriff Crutchfield said. ?I just don?t see that this leg­islation at this point in time will further the safety of the schools or any of the other environments out there.?

However, he said he believed sheriffs could make the proper licensing decisions if the three­member licensing board was scrapped. The other two mem­bers are a state police represen­tative and the prosecutor.

?I think we could do it in an in­formed way,? he said. ? The thing about a sheriff is they pretty much have a pulse on the com­munity, especially in more rural areas.?

The House gave final approval early Friday morning to legisla­tion that says someone who gets extra training could be allowed to have a concealed weapon in a gun-free zone.

The law still will require a mini­mum eight hours of training to obtain a concealed pistol license, but would boost firing-range re­quirements from 30 rounds to 98 rounds.

Those completing an addi­tional eight hours of training and another 94 rounds on the firing range would be able to carry con­cealed weapons in schools or on school property so- called gun­free zones.

The bill would allow schools to opt out.

Open carry no longer would be allowed in any of the previously designated gun-free zones.

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